Fulham beat Hull to give under-pressure Arbeloa first win

Alex Iwobi’s first-half  goal gave Fulham a much-needed first Premier League win under Alvaro Arbeloa, easing the pressure on the head coach.

The Whites, who finished the game with 10 men after Ryan Sessegnon was sent off in stoppage time, moved off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone with their victory.

They took advantage after Hull defender Brooke Norton-Cuffy had given the ball away deep in his own half.

Sander Berge teed up Iwobi, who fired past keeper Konstantinos Tzolakis.

Losing leads, not least in last weekend’s harrowing 2-1 defeat at Ipswich, has been a major factor in Fulham’s struggles this season.

And anxious fans might have been forgiven for thinking a familiar story was unfolding as Arbeloa’s side missed chances to double their lead.

Calvin Bassey headed Iwobi’s cross over the bar, Josh King was denied by Tzolakis, and Iwobi curled an effort just wide before crossing for Gonzalo Garcia to head against the bar.

But Fulham defended well at the other end and there was no late slip-up this time, although Sessegnon saw red following a crude challenge on Robinio Vaz.

Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Affengruber, Bassey, Robinson, Berge, Charles. King (Sessegnon 78), Bobb (Cairney 78), Gonzalo (Palacios 85), Iwobi.
Subs not used: Lecomte, Tete, Andersen, Manuel Angel, Kevin, Muniz.